Miami to Salt Lake...Via Chicago...In Only 2 Days

Bosco, the cute old guy

Monday was Memorial Day, the day I was scheduled to leave.  But first, there was fun to be had.

Alex and Lincoln's friend down the street was having a birthday party, and if any of her past parties were any indication, it was going to be fabulous.  

We got there early because the kids couldn't wait one more second.  They played in the treehouse in the front yard while I watched the caterers bring in the cake and trappings.

Seriously!  And the kids were using baby shampoo to coat themselves for maximum speed.  Ptolemy said it was the most fun he had the whole trip.

Champagne for the adults.  Because, you know, it's already 10 am.  There was also a crepe stand with made-to-order sandwich and dessert crepes.  I have to say, none of the adults at the party took much interest in me.  They probably thought I was some sort of weird babysitter, but the nannies didn't want me in their group, either.  I was lonely, but the crepe people were nice to me.  We tried out some new recipes.  The winner was mozzarella cheese and caramel.  I'll have to try that one at home!

This perfectly captures the hectic moments before departure.  Juan and Esther took me to the airport, and Tricia stayed with the boys, settling them down for the upcoming school week.

And then we were on the move!  I felt like this fish:  "Wait, wha??  It's over already?"

Once at the airport, Ptolemy and I had plenty of time for one last Cuban meal.

Then we got the Beanie Boos all settled in for the non-stop to Salt Lake.

Took a nap on the runway for two hours.  Then it was announced we would have to get off the plane.  Sitting back at the terminal with my sleeping boy, I got a text from the airline that our flight was cancelled!  Once word got around, there was a mad dash to the American Airlines counter.  Everyone RAN!  Except me.  I had Two carry-ons and a sleeping 5-year-old.  There would be no dashing.  What happened next could have been a brutal exercise in futility, but it wasn't because the people around me were super nice, jovial, fun and very accepting of the fact that we were all stranded and it was now 10 pm.  One family split up and the daughter sat with Ptolemy so I could go wait in line.  Long story short, I was the last person in line, but they got us all on flights.  It just took three hours.  By 2 am, when the magic ticket agent handed me my boarding passes for early the next morning, I was slap happy.  Everyone in the airport knew Ptolemy because they had stepped over his sleeping body as they moved forward in line.  IT was a friendly bunch.  The agent gave me a hotel voucher and meal vouchers for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Because it was going to take us awhile to get home.

First stop, the shuttle to the hotel.  Kids can sleep anywhere.  Ptolemy was a gem.

At two am, he was absolutely thrilled to be in this comfy hotel bed.  His enthusiasm is contagious.  We were on an adventure!

An adventure that continued 3 hours later when we boarded the shuttle back to the airport.  But for 3 hours, dang that bed was comfy!

Doesn't have a clue where we're going, or when, or why, but he's all in.

Turns out, we were going to Chicago for lunch!  Whoo hoo!  Who wouldn't jump at the chance for some Chicago style pizza, IN Chicago?

But tomatoes and spinach!?  Ew!

Sausage is more like it!

I love airports.  I could be that Tom Hanks character who lives at Heathrow, minus the fact that he couldn't leave.  There is something about the airport that is like a drug.  It gets in my veins and makes me feel invincible.  It's the possibility.  The people going all over the map, coming from everywhere and bringing with them the vibes of all sorts of places, and the air of adventure.  I love the excitement, the fatigue, the waiting, the boredom, the people-watching and just the culture of travel.  I love how you can get the feel of a city just from the airport.  So I would have been happy if American had flown us around to airports all over the country, except that I was anxious to get home to Scott and the kids.

I took home a big bag of Garrett's popcorn and two pizzas, courtesy of American Airlines.

And finally, I did.  I went straight to the shop to teach my lessons, then to Golda's scholarship night at Davis, where they announced all the scholarships.  Golda got scholarships from the U, Weber and UVU.  Proud of ya, G.

Back to real life, and lots of it!

It's a Keys Thing

After hearing about our adventures during the week, Alex and Lincoln chose to do the Keys for our Sunday adventure.  Of all things, they wanted to feed the iguanas in the Hampton Inn parking lot.  Like I said, who knew it would be a top tourist destination?  We thought if we left early in the morning, we could do everything in one day and make it back before the dogs got lonely.  But I told the kids we had to get up at 7, and leave right away, which we did.  Let me tell you, nobody in South Florida goes anywhere at 7 am Sunday morning on Memorial Day weekend.  We got to Key West in record time for our iguana adventure.

Armed with bananas, we lured our scaly friends out of their trees and hiding spots.  The iguanas are mesmerizing.  They are like miniature dinosaurs.  The boys named several of them.  Highlighter is the only one I can remember.  The best part of the Iguana Adventure is that it's free!  Except for the price of bananas.

Next up on our list of epic adventures, feeding the tarpons.  At about mile marker 78 (everything in the Keys is located by mile markers, ending at Mile 0 in Key West), you can buy a bucket of fish for $3 at a place called Robbie's Marina.

These fish are hilarious looking.  They are about 4 feet long, and they are well aware that tourists are buying buckets of fish to throw at them.  Look at their faces!  Don't they have character?

"Duuuh...is this where you get the dead fish?"

"What?!  People are throwing food at us!?"

This regal fish is now my lock screen.

I sent this pic to Sarah and said, "Is it mean that we see a resemblance between Betty Lou and this tarpon?"  Tee hee

The pelicans put on this bashful, pathetic act that makes you think it would be ok just to give the poor things just one fish.  But I saw a guy do it, and the pelican became aggressive, spreading his wings and chasing the guy.  It took several people to drive the pelican away.  So don't fall for their routine!

Robbie's Marina is super fun.  At every mile marker, there is something interesting, fun, kitschy or beautiful to do.  I think the Keys are so unique.  It doesn't really count as an epic adventure unless you go all the way, in my opinion.  I know I'm wrong, but that's just how it seems.  It was still so early in the day that we decided to go for it.  The kids were watching movies and whatnot, and the mile markers just sped by.  Soon, we were 90 miles away from Cuba and about 5 feet away from the end of the Untied States.  Mission accomplished!  We covered the Upper Keys, the Lower Keys and everything along the way.

 The line to take pictures next to the buoy was a block long, so we just di the next best thing.  That's why there are strangers in the background of all our shots.

 "Even this far south, brain freeze can be a problem."

 This is a classic.  Even though we didn't have time to go to the Ernest Hemingway home in Key West, I chose a quote by the man for this photo:  "Never go on trips with anyone you do not love."  Tricia loves her boys, that is never in question.  They are by far and away the most important thing in her life.  I hope they have good memories of our week of adventure.  I know I do.

Lunch at the boys' choice: Five Guys.  Not very Keys-y, but very good!  I prefer a good burger to Key Lime Pie anyway!

On the way back up to the Mainland, we visited the Turtle Hospital.  Briefly.  We had to beat the traffic.

It's difficult not to stop at every single roadside attraction.  I knew I wanted to buy a conch shell, and pulled over at this place.  In a wheelbarrow by the side of the road, I found one that spoke to me.  Now it's in my living room, bringing me good energy and happy memories.

My favorite shells. I always buy one or two at Bibby's in Imperial Beach.  Bibby says they are Haitian.  I grabbed a couple here, too.

The boys really wanted to feed the iguanas again on the way home.

I LOVE these shots of Alex.  To me, this was a precious moment.  Ironically, Alex decided that the second time feeding the iguanas "wasn't as magical."  Funny.  I don't know why.  Maybe because Ptolemy got bit. Ha ha.  He turned on me and cried, "You said they didn't have any teeth!"  Well...it looked like they didn't.  Oops.  My bad.   (He was FINE!  Don't panic.)

When we got home, the dogs were fine and it was still early enough that we went to the party store where everyone picked out a Beanie Boo.  Judging by the above photo, I think the day was a success.  They tried and failed to watch a movie.  Lol.